Reduced Trauma Symptoms and Perceived Stress in Male Prison Inmates through the Transcendental Meditation Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial.


Author: Nidich S1, O'connor T2, Rutledge T3, Duncan J4, Compton B5, Seng A6, Nidich R7

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Professor and the Director of the Center for Social and Emotional Health at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA. snidich@mum.edu.

<sup>2</sup>Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Western Oregon University in Monmouth. oconnortom@aol.com.

<sup>3</sup>Staff Psychologist at Veterans Administration San Diego Healthcare System in La Jolla, CA. thomas.rutledge@va.gov.

<sup>4</sup>Research Analyst for the Oregon Department of Corrections in Salem. jeff.b.duncan@doc.state.or.us.

<sup>5</sup>Affiliated Research Associate at the Center for Social and Emotional Health at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA. blazecompton@gmail.com.

<sup>6</sup>Affiliated Research Associate at the Center for Social and Emotional Health at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA. seng.angelak@gmail.com.

<sup>7</sup>Senior Researcher at the Center for Social and Emotional Health at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA. rnidich@mum.edu.
Conference/Journal: Perm J.
Date published: 2016 Oct 7
Other:
 Volume ID: 20   ,  Issue ID: 4   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.7812/TPP/16-007. [Epub ahead of print]   ,  Word Count: 176  
    CONTEXT: Trauma events are four times more prevalent in inmates than in the general public and are associated with increased recidivism and other mental and physical health issues.



OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Transcendental Meditationa (TM) on trauma symptoms in male inmates.



DESIGN: One hundred eighty-one inmates with a moderate- to high-risk criminal profile were randomly assigned to either the TM program or to a usual care control group.



MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Trauma Symptom Checklist and the Perceived Stress Scale were administered at baseline and four-month posttest.



RESULTS: Significant reductions in total trauma symptoms, anxiety, depression, dissociation, and sleep disturbance subscales, and perceived stress in the TM group were found compared with controls (all p values < 0.001). The high-trauma subgroup analysis further showed a higher magnitude of effects in the TM group compared with controls on all outcomes, with Cohen effect sizes ranging from 0.67 to 0.89.



CONCLUSION: Results are consistent with those of prior studies of the TM program in other populations and its effects on trauma symptoms and perceived stress.



PMID: 27723444  DOI: 10.7812/TPP/16-007